Partnership Excellence Awards

The rock and roll lifestyle of the Argyll Food Producers has led to a Scotland of Food and Drink Excellence Award.  The Food from Argyll initiative won the Success through Working in Partnerships Award which was presented at the awards ceremony and dinner in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Museum.

As a group of 10 primary and secondary producers the Argyll Food Producers  attended 6 large festivals in 2008  under a "Food from Argyll" branded marquee, these included  Tin the Park, Connect, Belladrum and the V-festival in Staffordshire.  The producers worked with food specialist Alison Sykora to create an excellent range of food to festival goers and with Randak design to create an identity that conveyed the west coast image of Argyll.  This proved not only to be a successful marketing tool for the producers’ individual businesses, but also an effective boost of recognition for Argyll’s local produce and the Argyll area as a whole.

The judges commented that the Argyll Food Producers had won the excellence award as their collaboration throughout 2008 had highlighted the benefits of partnership working.  The producers had managed to enter a new market through joint working, increasing sales for all participants and creating overall efficiency and savings.  The group was also commended for its use of feasibility reviews and developing a more formal structure.  

The group’s partnership has strengthened despite the physical distance between the producers located throughout Argyll. Each of the business had something unique to offer at the events in 2008.  From hearty hot food including roast beef, lamb kebabs and lamb stovies served by Barbreck Farms, Ifferdale Farm and Stronmagachan Farm. To vegetarian dishes from Kingscross Herbs  of Arran, cheese from Inverloch of Campbeltown, or seafood from Loch Fyne Oysters or Inverlussa Mussels and sticky toffee puddings from Bumble – the Food from Argyll marquee experience offered something for everyone in a unique west coast atmosphere.

Fergus Younger of the Argyll and Bute Agricultural Forum who works with the group, commented that, "Winning this award is great recognition for all the producers who have worked so hard to scale up to where they are now, and who have been willing to take the risks to enter a new market" 

Virginia Sumsion of Lochfyne Oysters and Chair of the group, "The producers would like to thank Argyll and Bute Council, HIE and Argyll Leader for providing initial support to get this initiative going, and also Geoff Ellis from DF Concerts who gave the producers their first opportunity at the Connect music festival in 2007".

The Food from Argyll producers are working with Argyll and Bute Council to raise the profile of Argyll as a good food producer, a good food destination and to promote all that Argyll and Isles has to offer.  The producers are attending more festivals in 2009 including T in the Park and Belladrum , but are also broadening their repettoir this year by attending  Spirit of the West food and whisky festival, the Cowal Highland Games and a major sporting event to be announced soon.

Release Date: 11 MAY 09

Further information from:

Fergus Younger

Argyll Area Agricultural Strategy Development Manager

SAC Farm Business Services, 12 Burnside Street, Campbeltown, Argyll PA28 6JE

T 01586 552502   F 01586 553371   M 07899 940394   E fergus.younger@sac.co.uk

Notes for Editors

1.      The Agricultural Forum is a rural partnership that works towards a vision of sustainable and prosperous farming and crofting enterprises benefiting communities across the Argyll Area. Website www.argyllagriculturalforum.com

2.      SAC website www.sac.ac.uk/

3.      NFUS website www.nfus.org.uk

18 May 2009